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Leather & footwear

Export leather goods (bags, wallets, belts)

Leather handbags, wallets and travel goods for brands; the USA and Europe buy most.

Free, with conditionsHS 4202
HS code
4202
Trunks, suitcases, handbags, wallets, purses and similar cases. Leather belts and garments are in HS 4203.
Export policy
Free, with conditions
Finished leather goods are free to export, but goods made from skins of wild or protected animals are prohibited. Raw hides and skins carry separate controls.
Registrations
3
IEC, GST and those below
India’s exports, 2025-26
US$ 1.59 bn
to 170 countries

What is exported

Kolkata, Chennai, Kanpur and Delhi NCR make leather handbags, wallets, belts and travel goods, mostly for brands that send their own designs. In 2025-26 India exported about US$ 1.6 billion under HS 4202; the USA led, followed by Germany, the UK, Spain, France and the Netherlands.

Varieties, grades and forms

  • Handbags and shoulder bagsFinished leather bags for fashion brands — the biggest line.
  • Wallets, purses and small leather goodsCard holders, key cases and passport covers.
  • BeltsLeather belts for men and women, often with brand buckles supplied by the buyer.
  • Travel goods and briefcasesDuffel bags, laptop bags and briefcases in leather or leather with canvas.
  • Leather gloves and garmentsFashion and industrial gloves, jackets — separate HS lines (4203).

Where it is grown or made

  • West BengalKolkata (Bantala leather complex) — bags, wallets and belts
  • Tamil NaduChennai, Ranipet, Vellore and Ambur — tanneries and goods makers
  • Uttar PradeshKanpur (saddlery, belts, finished leather) and Noida
  • Delhi NCR and PunjabDelhi and Jalandhar

Export packing

  • Each item is stuffed with paper to hold its shape, put in a dust bag or polybag with silica gel, then in an inner box and 5-ply carton.
  • Keep leather dry: mould in transit is the most common claim. Ventilated containers help in the monsoon.
  • Labels show the material ("genuine leather" only if true) and country of origin; EU buyers ask for chromium VI and azo-dye test reports.

Who buys abroad

  • Fashion and luxury brands (often through buying agents)
  • Department stores and accessory chains
  • Importers and wholesalers
  • Corporate-gift buyers and online brands

The quality buyers ask for

Chromium VI
EU REACH: leather articles in contact with skin must contain less than 3 mg/kg of chromium VI (tested by EN ISO 17075)
Azo dyes
EU REACH: listed aromatic amines from azo dyes below 30 mg/kg
Other restricted substances
PCP, DMFu, PAHs in coatings and the brand's restricted substances list
Physical tests
Colour fastness to rubbing (ISO 11640), finish adhesion, tear strength, handle and strap pull strength
Leather type
Animal (cow, buffalo, goat, sheep), tannage (chrome, vegetable), thickness in mm, finish
Hardware
Nickel release from buckles and zips under the EU REACH limit; salt-spray resistance

Certificates

  • Chemical test report (Cr VI, azo, restricted substances)RequiredNeeded for nearly every EU and US order.
  • Leather Working Group (LWG)Often askedEnvironmental audit of the tannery; many brands buy only LWG-rated leather.
  • Social compliance audit (amfori BSCI, SMETA or SA8000)RequiredRequired by most retailers for the stitching unit.
  • CITES permit (exotic leathers)Often askedNeeded for leathers from protected species; most exotic skins cannot be exported from India at all.
  • CE (PPE) for protective glovesOften askedWork gloves sold as personal protective equipment in the EU need CE marking under Regulation (EU) 2016/425 and tests to EN 420 / EN 388.
  • ISO 9001 / ISO 14001Often askedQuality and environmental systems.

Shipping, storage and shelf life

Container load

Cartons with each item in a dust bag and paper stuffing; LCL or 20-ft/40-ft containers by volume. Many brands ship fashion lots by air.

How it travels

Sea from Chennai, Kolkata or Nhava Sheva; air for samples and fast fashion.

Storage

Leather moulds in humidity; store dry and use silica gel and anti-mould sachets that are allowed in the EU (no DMFu).

What goes on the pack and carton

  • Country of origin ('Made in India') on the product.
  • Material description true to content: 'genuine leather' only for real leather; state coated or bonded leather honestly.
  • Care instructions and the brand's swing tags and barcodes.
  • PPE gloves in the EU: CE mark, size, performance pictograms and user information.
Where to get it tested

CSIR-Central Leather Research Institute (CLRI), Chennai, tests leather for chemicals and physical properties and has regional centres. The Footwear Design and Development Institute (FDDI) runs NABL-accredited labs that test leather goods. For other labs, search 'leather' in the NABL directory.

Benefits of exporting this product

Where to register

  • CLE (Council for Leather Exports)RCMC for leather and leather products, including footwear.leatherindia.org ↗

Quality and checks

  • EU REACH restricts chromium VI in leather that touches the skin and certain azo dyes; buyers ask for lab reports.
  • EU: cattle leather is a derived product under the EU Deforestation Regulation (applies from 30 December 2026 for large and medium operators); be ready to share origin data of the hides.
  • Exotic skins need CITES permits — avoid them as a newcomer.
  • Brand buyers usually audit the tannery source and the factory (environmental and social).
How to start small

Start with a small range — wallets, card holders or belts — made from finished leather bought with tannery test reports. Join CLE, exhibit in a CLE pavilion at a fair, and take small-batch orders from boutique brands and online sellers before chasing large programmes.

Where new exporters go wrong

  • Chromium VI failures in an EU lab test — the whole lot can be rejected.
  • Mould in sea transit; use silica gel and breathable packing.
  • Colour and grain variation between hides that the buyer was not warned about.

Documents this product needs

Schemes that apply

Sources (6)
  1. Department of Commerce, Export Import Data Bank — India's exports of HS 4202 by country, 2025-26
  2. DGFT — Appendix 2T: Export Promotion Councils and the products under each
  3. DGFT — ITC(HS) export policy search (Schedule 2)
  4. European Chemicals Agency — Understanding REACH
  5. European Commission — EU Deforestation Regulation (application dates and scope)
  6. Council for Leather Exports — official site

Trade data

Indian leather goods (bags, wallets, belts) exports in numbers

From the Department of Commerce’s TradeStat, country by country. US$, Indian financial years (April–March).

Exports in 2025-26
US$ 1.59 bn
+9.3% a year on average, 2020-21 to 2025-26
Change from 2024-25
↓ -1.8%
US$ 1.62 bn → US$ 1.59 bn
Buyer countries
170
Average export price
US$ 2.47
per kg · 6,44,103 tonnes shipped · US$ 2.38 the year before
United States of America: US$ 469 mnGermany: US$ 149 mnUnited Kingdom: US$ 147 mnSpain: US$ 112 mnFrance: US$ 111 mnNetherlands: US$ 106 mnItaly: US$ 84.5 mnAustralia: US$ 44.6 mnJapan: US$ 37.6 mnUnited Arab Emirates: US$ 32.5 mnCanada: US$ 26.3 mnChina: US$ 16.7 mnSouth Korea: US$ 9.5 mnSingapore: US$ 6.5 mnSouth Africa: US$ 5.5 mnUnited States of America: US$ 469 mnUnited States of AmericaGermany: US$ 149 mnGermanyUnited Kingdom: US$ 147 mnSpain: US$ 112 mnSpainFrance: US$ 111 mnNetherlands: US$ 106 mnItaly: US$ 84.5 mnAustralia: US$ 44.6 mnAustraliaJapan: US$ 37.6 mnJapanUnited Arab Emirates: US$ 32.5 mnUnited Arab EmiratesCanada: US$ 26.3 mnChina: US$ 16.7 mnSouth Korea: US$ 9.5 mnSingapore: US$ 6.5 mnSouth Africa: US$ 5.5 mnIndia
Where Indian leather goods (bags, wallets, belts) goes — among our 30 countries, 2025-26
2020-21: US$ 1.02 bn1.0k2020-212021-22: US$ 1.5 bn1.5k2021-222022-23: US$ 1.64 bn1.6k2022-232023-24: US$ 1.53 bn1.5k2023-242024-25: US$ 1.62 bn1.6k2024-252025-26: US$ 1.59 bn1.6k2025-26
India’s leather goods (bags, wallets, belts) exports, year by year · US$ million

The price cycle

India’s average export price per kg each year (total value ÷ total quantity). Highest in 2021-22, lowest in 2024-25 — a 10% swing between them. Keep this swing in mind when you quote.

2020-21: US$ 2.40 per kg2021-22: US$ 2.63 per kg2.632022-23: US$ 2.47 per kg2024-25: US$ 2.38 per kg2.382025-26: US$ 2.47 per kg2.472020-212021-222022-232023-242024-252025-26
Average export price of Indian leather goods (bags, wallets, belts) · US$ per kg · dotted = year in between not available

What next: a projection from the trend

The past trend carried forward — not a forecast by any authority. Sudden changes in policy, prices or demand are not in it.

2020-21: US$ 1.02 bn2020-212021-22: US$ 1.5 bn2021-222022-23: US$ 1.64 bn2022-232023-24: US$ 1.53 bn2023-242024-25: US$ 1.62 bn2024-252025-26: US$ 1.59 bn2025-262026-27: US$ 1.86 bn (US$ 1.53 bn – US$ 2.26 bn)1.9k2026-272027-28: US$ 1.99 bn (US$ 1.6 bn – US$ 2.48 bn)2.0k2027-28
India’s leather goods (bags, wallets, belts) exports and projection · hollow bars = projection, line = likely range
By 2027-28: US$ 1.99 bn

Likely range US$ 1.6 bn to US$ 2.48 bn.

Trend
+7.1% a year
Fit (R²)
0.5
Based on
6 years of official figures

Method: a straight line through the logarithm of yearly exports (log-linear regression); range = ±1 standard error.

Biggest buyer countries

By value in 2025-26. Change is against 2024-25.

Name2025-26Change
1United States of AmericaUS$ 469 mn-4.3%
2GermanyUS$ 149 mn-3.9%
3United KingdomUS$ 147 mn-5.5%
4SpainUS$ 112 mn+12.7%
5FranceUS$ 111 mn-3.1%
6NetherlandsUS$ 106 mn+5.4%
7ItalyUS$ 84.5 mn+0.2%
8AustraliaUS$ 44.6 mn-4.5%
9BelgiumUS$ 39.6 mn-11.7%
10JapanUS$ 37.6 mn-1%
11DenmarkUS$ 32.9 mn-7.5%
12United Arab EmiratesUS$ 32.5 mn+3.9%

Where demand is rising and falling

Only countries that buy at least US$ 1 million or 1% of India’s exports of this product. Change from 2024-25 to 2025-26.

High demand

  1. ChinaUS$ 9.7 mn → US$ 16.7 mn+71.1%
  2. SpainUS$ 99 mn → US$ 112 mn+12.7%

Low demand

  1. PolandUS$ 29.3 mn → US$ 24.1 mn-17.8%
  2. BelgiumUS$ 44.9 mn → US$ 39.6 mn-11.7%

Which forms sell, and at what price

India’s exports by 8-digit tariff line, 2025-26. Average price = total value ÷ total quantity (TradeStat): the average of every shipment on that line, not the price of any one deal.

Tariff lineValue 2025-26ChangeQuantityAverage price
Hand bags/shopping bags of cotton4202 22 20 · Cases and containers, handbags, with outer surface of sheeting of plastics or of textile materialsUS$ 324 mn-3%359 mn piecesUS$ 0.90 per piecewas US$ 0.86
Cases and containers, handbags, with outer surface of leather or of composition leather — other leather hand bags.4202 21 90US$ 242 mn+1.6%10.9 mn piecesUS$ 22.19 per piecewas US$ 19.77
Wallets and purses of leather4202 31 20 · Cases and containers, of a kind normally carried in the pocket or in the handbag, with outer surface of…US$ 228 mn-12.9%43.4 mn piecesUS$ 5.24 per piecewas US$ 5.03
Handbags of leather for ladies4202 21 10 · Cases and containers, handbags, with outer surface of leather or of composition leatherUS$ 182 mn+1.1%6.6 mn piecesUS$ 27.41 per piecewas US$ 24.96
Others-of-handbags with outer surface of sheeting of plastic/of textile materials whether or not withshoulder strap-including those without ha4202 22 90 · Cases and containers, handbags, with outer surface of sheeting of plastics or of textile materialsUS$ 132 mn+12.7%56.1 mn piecesUS$ 2.36 per piecewas US$ 2.21
Jute hand bags/shopping bags.4202 22 30 · Cases and containers, handbags, with outer surface of sheeting of plastics or of textile materialsUS$ 67.9 mn-13.5%71.5 mn piecesUS$ 0.95 per piecewas US$ 1.02
Others-of-articles with outer srfce of lthr of compstn lthr/of ptnt lthr caried in pockt/hndbag4202 31 90 · Cases and containers, of a kind normally carried in the pocket or in the handbag, with outer surface of…US$ 67.1 mn-6.8%18.5 mn piecesUS$ 3.62 per piecewas US$ 3.62
Other articles with outer surface of plastic sheeting or of txtl materials4202 92 00 · Cases and containers in heading 4202, with outer surface of sheeting of plastics or of textile materialsUS$ 49.5 mn+27.3%19.7 mn piecesUS$ 2.51 per piecewas US$ 2.16
Other articls with outer surfce of lthr of composition of leather/of patent leather4202 91 00 · Cases and containers in heading 4202, with outer surface of leather or of composition leatherUS$ 42.8 mn-12.3%4.8 mn piecesUS$ 8.91 per piecewas US$ 8.04
Cases and containers, trunks, suit-cases, vanity-cases, executive-cases, brief-cases, school satchels and… — other case of leather4202 11 90US$ 41.4 mn-7.3%2.4 mn piecesUS$ 16.93 per piecewas US$ 18.52
Others-of-articles with outer srfce of sheeting of plastics/txtl mtrl caried in pocket/hndbg4202 32 90 · Cases and containers, of a kind normally carried in the pocket or in the handbag, with outer surface of…US$ 34 mn+5.6%13.8 mn piecesUS$ 2.47 per piecewas US$ 2.56
Cases and containers, trunks, suit-cases, vanity-cases, executive-cases, brief-cases, school satchels and… — plastic moulded suitcases4202 12 20US$ 27.2 mn-22.2%1.2 mn piecesUS$ 22.87 per piecewas US$ 22.06
Other similar containers of hdng 42024202 99 00 · Cases and containers in heading 4202, of vulcanised fibre or of paperboard, or wholly or mainly covered…US$ 22.2 mn-2.3%9.5 mn piecesUS$ 2.33 per piecewas US$ 2.83
Others-of-other handbags including those without handle4202 29 90 · Cases and containers, handbags, of vulcanised fibre or of paperboard, or wholly or mainly covered with such…US$ 21.7 mn+19.5%4.1 mn piecesUS$ 5.35 per piecewas US$ 5.06

The world market

Each country’s own recorded exports and imports in UN Comtrade, 2023 (the latest year nearly every country has reported).

World imports
US$ 79.3 bn
2023
India among exporters
#11
of 161 countries
India’s share of world exports
1.7%
US$ 1.54 bn
Left for others to win
US$ 87.4 bn
exported by other countries

Top exporters — your competitors

  1. 1ChinaUS$ 35.7 bn 40.1%
  2. 2FranceUS$ 13 bn 14.6%
  3. 3ItalyUS$ 11.4 bn 12.8%
  4. 4Viet NamUS$ 2.97 bn 3.3%
  5. 5China, Hong Kong SARUS$ 2.86 bn 3.2%
  6. 6GermanyUS$ 2.56 bn 2.9%
  7. 7NetherlandsUS$ 1.85 bn 2.1%
  8. 8SingaporeUS$ 1.84 bn 2.1%
  9. 9CambodiaUS$ 1.64 bn 1.8%
  10. 10SpainUS$ 1.64 bn 1.8%

Biggest buyers in the world

  1. 1USAUS$ 11.8 bn 14.9%
  2. 2JapanUS$ 6.08 bn 7.7%
  3. 3ChinaUS$ 6 bn 7.6%
  4. 4FranceUS$ 4.94 bn 6.2%
  5. 5China, Hong Kong SARUS$ 4.28 bn 5.4%
  6. 6GermanyUS$ 4.15 bn 5.2%
  7. 7ItalyUS$ 3.79 bn 4.8%
  8. 8Rep. of KoreaUS$ 3.73 bn 4.7%
  9. 9United KingdomUS$ 2.84 bn 3.6%
  10. 10SingaporeUS$ 2.6 bn 3.3%

Opportunity: what these countries buy from the world, and from India

Each country’s own recorded imports in UN Comtrade, latest year it has reported. The long light part of each bar is demand other countries are filling today.

United States of AmericaUS$ 12.1 bnIndia 3.7% · gap US$ 11.7 bn
JapanUS$ 6.32 bnIndia 1% · gap US$ 6.25 bn
ChinaUS$ 5.6 bnIndia 0.9% · gap US$ 5.55 bn
FranceUS$ 4.83 bnIndia 3.3% · gap US$ 4.67 bn
GermanyUS$ 4.17 bnIndia 5.9% · gap US$ 3.93 bn
South KoreaUS$ 3.51 bnIndia 0.5% · gap US$ 3.5 bn
ItalyUS$ 3.52 bnIndia 2.5% · gap US$ 3.44 bn
United KingdomUS$ 2.84 bnIndia 5.7% · gap US$ 2.68 bn
SpainUS$ 2.15 bnIndia 5% · gap US$ 2.04 bn
United Arab EmiratesUS$ 1.92 bnIndia 1.8% · gap US$ 1.88 bn

HS 4202 includes bags of other materials as well as leather. TradeStat’s 2023-24 quantities are double-counted, so that year is left out of the price. Sources: TradeStat — Export Import Data Bank, Department of Commerce · UN Comtrade database (United Nations Statistics Division) · Figures taken 29 October 2026.

Step by step

How to export leather goods (bags, wallets, belts)

India is one of the world's largest producers of leather and a major exporter of leather goods — bags, wallets, belts, gloves and saddlery — from Chennai, Kanpur, Kolkata and Agra. Italy and France lead the luxury end, while China, Vietnam and Cambodia dominate volume. Demand comes from fashion brands and department stores in Europe and the USA, and buyers increasingly ask for tannery environmental certification and traceable hides. Openings are in mid-price branded bags, work and fashion gloves, saddlery, and bags made from LWG-certified leather.

  1. 01Source leather

    Buy from tanneries with test reports and, ideally, LWG certification.

  2. 02Develop samples

    Make proto and salesman samples to the buyer's design; agree leather, lining and hardware.

  3. 03Test

    Run chemical and physical tests on leather and hardware before bulk.

  4. 04Cut and stitch

    Cut to minimise waste, stitch and finish edges; inline quality checks.

  5. 05Final inspection

    AQL inspection on stitching, colour match, hardware and odour.

  6. 06Pack and ship

    Dust bags, stuffing, cartons; file the shipping bill and claim RoDTEP and drawback.

  7. 07Payment

    LC or documents against payment with new buyers; ECGC cover for open account.

Meet buyers

Trade fairs

Questions

Questions about exporting leather goods (bags, wallets, belts)

Why do buyers ask about chromium VI?
Chrome-tanned leather can form chromium VI, which causes skin allergies. The EU limit is 3 mg/kg; poor tanning and storage raise the risk.
What is LWG and do I need it?
It rates tanneries on environmental performance. As a goods maker you need your leather to come from LWG-rated tanneries if your buyer asks.
Which council covers leather goods?
CLE, the Council for Leather Exports.
Can I call PU bags 'vegan leather'?
Many EU countries restrict the word 'leather' for non-leather materials. Use 'PU' or 'synthetic' and check the buyer's market rules.
How do I avoid mould claims?
Make sure leather moisture is low, store dry, pack with silica gel, and avoid sealing warm goods in polybags.
Sources (7)
  1. CLE (Council for Leather Exports) — official site
  2. ECHA — substances restricted under REACH (Annex XVII list with conditions)
  3. Leather Working Group — environmental certification for leather manufacturers
  4. CSIR-Central Leather Research Institute (CLRI), Chennai
  5. Footwear Design and Development Institute (FDDI) — testing laboratories
  6. European Commission — CE marking
  7. NABL — search for accredited testing laboratories

Who buys Indian leather goods (bags, wallets, belts)

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